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Today is June 27, the 178th day of the year. So, there are 187 days left in 2019. Below are news items from the Creston News Advertiser for this week (June 24-30) in history:
20 years ago
A special section in Creston News Advertiser featured Union County employees. They included A.D. Paxton – assessor, Tim Kenyon – attorney, Fran Bakerink – treasurer, Marsha Parsons – clerk of district court, Curt Greenfield – engineer, Paula Bowers – recorder, Louis Boeckman – sanitarian, John Coulter – sheriff, Don Krings – auditor, Donald L. Miller – weed commissioner and Gerald McLain, JoAnn Bradley, Mike Reasoner, Bob Brown and Mike King – board of supervisors.
According to an Iowa State Patrol report, Shawn Floyd Dudney, 22, of Kent died when the tractor he was driving was struck by a train one mile north of Highway 34 on Iris Avenue. He was attempting to cross the railroad tracks when a westbound Burlington Northern/Santa Fe train engine driven by engineer Devin Straub, 29, of Burlington hit the tractor which was a total loss.
Paul Somers reflected on his experiences at SWCC since 1966 during summer commencement. He had been director of student services and ended his 32-year career after presenting 140 candidate diplomas and degrees. A reception was held at Crestmoor Golf Club.
Travis Paul Clark, 29, and Tobias J. Henry, 25, both of Creston, and Robert D. Kovacevich, 27, of Murray were among 41 Iowa law enforcement officers graduating from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. Clark was chief of Murray Police, Henry, a Creston police officer, and Kovacevich, a Clarke County Sheriff’s deputy.
50 years ago
The granddaughter of the first mayor of Creston, Col. S.D. Swan, was a centennial visitor. Florence Stever Kohler of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, stayed with Harold Arnolds family. Swan served the first two years of the city’s incorporation in 1871. In those years, elections were for one year and he was elected twice.
Mark Blazek, son of Mr. and Mrs. Burton Blazek, and Jacqueline Hulett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hulett, were selected as Crestennial “Babies of 1969.” Prizes of $18.75 U.S. Savings Bonds were awarded to them and to four other finalists in the contest – Allison Clemons, Steven Johnson, Kevin Lynn Francis, and Christie Olson.
The last railway postal cars on Burlington Railroad between Chicago, Illinois, and Omaha, Nebraska, made their the final trips. The post office department ended the service where the mail was worked on the train, but mail would continue to be hauled in storage cars on trains.
Some of the first churches in Creston were St. Malachy Catholic – 1868, United Methodist and Salem Lutheran – 1871, First Christian and First Baptist – 1872, Congregational – 1873, St. Paul’s Episcopal and Presbyterian – 1876, St. John’s – 1878 and Christian Science – 1899. With the incorporation of Creston in 1871, neighborhood meeting of church members began turning into congregations. In 1969, there were 20 active churches in the community.
Teresa Misner, 17, of Kent was crowned Queen of Creston centennial. Her court included Becky Francis – first runner-up, Shirley Teply – second, Gloria King, – third and Sandra Busch – fourth. Miss Misner was crowned by Mayor Percy Carney at the Queen’s Ball at The Inn.